(CNN) -- England midfielder David Beckham has praised coach Fabio Capello for creating a new spirit of togetherness in the national side.

Beckham said the Italian coach had made the team "very serious and very concentrated."

With the team on the brink of qualification for the 2010 World Cup, Beckham said the Italian had "changed the mentality of the players."

The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has forced his way back into contention under the Italian, although he is unlikely to be offered a starting role in England's friendly this weekend against Slovenia or when the side resumes its World Cup qualification campaign against Croatia on September 9.

Capello has presided over a 100 percent record in qualifiers so far, with England sitting seven points clear at the head of their group. Victory over Slaven Bilic's side at Wembley would see them safely through to South Africa with two games in hand.

"It is working because we are not just winning games. We are together as a team," Beckham said of the Capello regime, told FIFA.com.

"The way the players prepare themselves, the way we spend the week together, is very serious and very concentrated.

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"Even when we have come in at half-time and we are not winning, there is a spirit that you can feel. That is what the manager has done. He has given the players confidence."

The battle for qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa begins again in earnest this weekend, with a full round of matches in Europe, Africa, South America and in the qualification zone of North, Central America and the Caribbean.

Beckham has been relegated to the substitute's bench for most of Capello's rule. He took over England legend Bobby Moore's record for the most outfield appearances in March when he was brought on in a friendly with Slovakia to earn his 109th cap.

Despite his longevity he added he was still happy to fight for his place.

"When you are playing for your country and you are only coming together once a month, or once every couple of months it is always tough," he said.

"You need a certain amount of luck along the way but we have got the players and we have got the team. Everything is set up right. It is only down to the players to perform."